Suspension-bridge



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

G. N. "CLYMER,

SUSPENSION BRIDGE;

N0. 413 1'72. Patented Oct. 221', 1889.

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(N o Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2] G. N. GLYMER.

SUSPENSION BRIDGE.

Patented Oct. 22, 1889.

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GEORGE N. CLYMER, OF BLOOMlNGSBUlt-G, INDIANA.

SUSPENSlON=BRlDGE SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.413,172, dated October 22, 1889. Application filed March 22, 1389.Serial No. 304,246. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

. Be it known that I, GEORGE N. CLYMER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bloomingsburg, in the county of Fulton and State of Indiana,have invented new and useful Improvements in Suspension-Bridges, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in suspensionbridges; and itconsists in the pe culiar construction and combination of devices, thatWill be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figurel is a side elevation of asuspension-bridge embodying my improvement. Fig. 2 is a transversesectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view. Figs. 4, 5, 6,'7, and 8 are detail views.

On opposite sides of the approaches or abutments A are erected hollowtapered posts 15, the same having their lower ends socketed in collars Oon base-plates D,which base-plates are bolted on mud-sills E. The saidposts are filled with cement or other suitable substance, and on thesame at points level with the deck of the bridge are secured collars F,each of which is composed of a pair of separable semicircular sectionsG, having flanges sccured together by bolts H. Formed with each collar13' is an eye I. To the upper ends of the posts are secured castings K,which have depending sockets L to receive the posts, and haveconcavities M in their upper sides, and semicircular openings N onopposite sides of Gap-plates O are adapted to fit on the castings M andhave base-flanges adapted to [it and be bolted on the flanges at theupper sides oi the castings, and also formed in the said cap-flanges areopenings, which register with the openings N and complete the rotundityof the latter. In each concavity M is arranged a rotatable cam or blockP, which is substantially elliptical in shape and has a groovedperimeter, and in the center of each block or rotatable cam is anopening R, which is angular in shape and is adapted to register with asimilar opening S in the bottom of the casting. A bar or key T isadapted to be inserted in said openings, and thereby serves to retainthe cam or block in the casting.

The cables U are passed through the openings N and serve to span thestream, and are supported on the upper ends of the posts. The ends ofthe cables are untwisted, and the strands thereof are separatelyattached to anchor-posts V, which are driven into the ground orotherwise supported in place at the approaches to the bridge. Collars orclamping-rings \V are placed on the cables to prevent further untwistingthereof, the said collars or clamps being split and having flanges X attheir open sides and clamping screws or bolts Y to bind the said flangestogether, and thereby compress the said clamping rings or collars on thecables. The cables are given a turn around the cams or blocks, afterwhich the keys T are Withdrawn from the sockets S, but left in theopeningsRof the cams. Now, through the medium of a suitable wrench orkey applied to the upper ends of the keys '1, said cams may be revolvedand take up the desired amount of cable, and when this is accomplishedthe key is returned to the socket S and the cam prevented from aretrograde movement.

A series of clamps Z are strung on the cables at suitable distancesapart, each of the said clamps comprising a pair of plates A, havingt-ransvcrsely-groovcd offsets B near their upper ends to receive thecables, and being connected together by bolts 0. Rods D have eyes attheir upper ends inserted between the plates A and secured bybolts, anda pair of truss-rods l are also attached to eachclamp Z by having theirupper ends provided with eyes inserted between the plates and pivoted onbolts I The stringers G are arched in the usual manner, have their endssupported on the piers or abutments and connected transversely atsuitable distances apart by iron girders II, the latter having recessesor rabbets I in their upper edges to receive the stringers, and beingnarrowed from their cen ters to their ends by having their lower edgesinclined, as shown in Fi 2. The ends of the the girders are arrangedbetween the said arms, and platesh N have openings through which thesaid arms extend, and said plates bear, respectively, upon the upper andlower sides of the girders, and are provided with vertical ears or lugs0, which are bolted to the girders, as shown. Nuts P are screwed on thearms of the bars L, and serve to clamp the plates in position on thegirders, and the said bars have their central upper portion passedthrough eyes at the lower ends of the rods D and truss-rods E. The saidU- shaped bars and plates constitute saddles, which are adapted tosupport the ends of the girders and suspend the same from the cables, aswill be readily understood.

Each truss-rod E is provided with a turnbuckle R, by means of whichit-may be adjusted longitudinally in such manner as to cause each trussto bear its proportionate share of the load and to add the necessarystability to the bridge. The truss-rods E at the ends of the bridge havetheir outer ends attached to the eyes I of the collars F and to eyes S,formed or provided with the castings K.

In order to provide against undue lateral vibration, I employ a seriesof crossed trussrods T, a pair of which are arranged between each pairof the girders throughout thelength of the bridge, the said truss-rodsbeing provided with turn-buckles U for adjusting them. Said rods haveopenings or eyes at their ends to receive bolts V, which are passedtransversely through openings in the girders.

A suspensionbridge thus constructed is extremely strong and durable,isadapted to distribute the weight of a movingload throughout the entirelength of the bridge, so that no part thereof will be subjected to anundue strain, and may be erected in a comparatively short time.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a suspension-bridge,the posts having the caps with concavities M, in combination with thecables strung through the caps, the cam -blocks around which the cablesare wound, and the removable keys inserted in openings in said blocksand in said caps, for the purpose set forth, substantially as described.

2. In a suspension-bridge, the posts B,l 1aving the caps K, with flangeshaving openings N, and the caps O, bolted on the caps K and having theflanges provided with the openings registering with openings N, wherebythe cables are adapted to pass through the said openings, substantiallyas described.

3. The supporting-saddles for the girderof a bridge, these saddlescomprising the nverted- U shaped bars L, having opposite arms, throughwhich the girders are passed, and the upper and lower plates notched toreceive the arms, adapted to embrace the girders, and nuts threaded onthe ends of the arms, and the vertically-opposite pairs of lugs O,bolted to the inner surface of the plates and to the girders at oppositesides, substantially as specified.

4. The combination, in a suspension-bridge, of the cables, the clamps Z,attached thereto, the stringers, the girders connecting the same, thesaddles at the ends of the girders, the supporting-rods D, having theirupper ends attached to the clamps and their lower ends attached to thesaddles, and the truss-rods E, crossed midway between thesupporting-rods, and also having their upper and lower ends attached tothe clamps and saddles, substantially as described.

5. In a suspension-bridge, the cables strung over the posts and havingtheir ends untwisted, the separate strands of the cables'being attachedto independent anchor posts or devices, substantially as described.

6. In a suspension-bridge, a post provided with a cable-receivingrotatable drum, in combination with a key for locking the drum againstrotation, substantially as specified.

'7. In a suspension-bridge, opposite pairs of posts, each provided withrotatable cams locked in position thereon, in combination with cableswound intermediate their ends around the blocks, and anchors arranged inrear of the posts and connected with the ends of the cables,substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE N. GLYMER. lVitnesses:

CYRUs DAVIS, LEVI SHOEMAKER.

